Playing-card holder



Dec. 25, 192 8.

H. J. SANDER ET AL PLAYING CARD HOLDER Filed April 26. 1928 Patented Dec. 25, 1928.

UNITED STATES 1 1,596,647 PATENT OFFICE.

HERMAN J. SANDER AND ALBERT JIBREISTER, OF FOND DU LAC, WISCONSIN.

PLAYING-CARD HOLDER.

Application filed. April 26, 1928. Serial No. 273,049.

certain novel features of construction to facilitate retention of the playing-cards the-rein when the cards are in open arranged position, the cards being retained in the holder by the tension formed by bending the cards on an are between the thumb and finger portions of the holder; and suitable means being provided for preventing the hand of cards from opening-up beyond a predetermined amount.

Other minor objects will be hereinafter set forth.

We will explain the invention with reference to the accompanying drawing which illustrates one practical embodiment thereof to enable others to adopt and use the same; and will summarize in the claims the novel features of construction, and novel combinations of parts, for which protection is desired.

In said drawings Figure 1 is a front perspective view of the holder, showing in dotted lines a hand of playing-cards in open arranged position, retained therein.

Figure 2 is a section on the line 22, Figure 1.

As shown in the drawings, our novel playing-card holder preferably comprises a back 1. preferably stamped from sheet metal and formed to simulate the inner surfaces of the four fingers 1*, 1 1 and 1 of a human hand in the customary position for holding a hand of playing-cards C in opened ar ranged position.

In the drawing, 1" represents the index finger; 1 the middle finger; 1 the third finger; and 1 the little finger; and preferably the entire back 1 is formed slightly concave, as shown in Fig. 2 so that fingers 1 and 1 project outwardly beyond the middle finger 1 so as to cause the arranged cards to be bent slightly on an arc of a circle between the back and the thumb portion, hereinafter described, in order to yieldingly retain the cards in the holder. 7

Back 1 is mounted on the upper end of a standard 2 which may, if desired, be formed integrally with the back 1 or made separately and attached thereto in any desired manner so as to support-the back 1 in vertical position. In the drawing the support 2 is shown to be a continuation of the middle finger portion 1 and is attached to the center of a concave-convex dish shaped base 3 of sheet metal preferably by means of a soldered flange 2.

The central portion of base 3 is raised or convexed as at 3 and is provided with a downwardly pressed groove 3* therein for the reception of a cigar or cigarette which may be placed in groove 3* to prevent rolling, and the periphery 3 of the base 3 is dished or rolled upwardly to provide a suitable ash tray.

The lower end of the index finger portion 1 is elongated and the projecting portion bent back diagonally as at 1 across thefront face of back 1 to form a yielding thumb portion 1 closely overlying the adjacent portions of the fingers 1 1 and 1 to yieldingly retain the cards G in position in the holder. Bend 1 is disposed at one lower corner of the back 1 substantially opposite the upper end of standard 2, and the opposite lower corner of back 1 namely the base of the little finger portion 1 is flanged outwardly as at 1 the bend 1 and flange 1 forming limits to prevent the outermost cards from dropping out of the holder.

In use, the hand of cards is opened out in the customary arranged position and the cards inserted between back 1 and the yieldable thumb 1 the arranged cards; being retained primarily by the tension formed by bending the cards on an are between the index finger 1", little finger 1 and thumb 1?, instead for primarily by the spring tension of the thumb 1 alone. In our device the thumb 1 need not actually touch the back 1.

.The bend 1 forms a limit for the opening movement at the left hand lower corner of the back, and the flange 1 forms the corresponding limit at the right hand lower corner of the back 1. The hand may thuscbe held in convenient position in the holder and the cards C readily removed therefrom one at a time during playing of the game; and

the base 3 forms a convenient cigar holder and ash tray as well as a base for the card holder.

The entire article may be conveniently made of stamped metal and any desired finish may be given thereto such as an enameled, bronzed, nickeled, or other finish.

We do not limit our invention to the exact form shown in the drawing for obviously changes may be made therein within the scope of the claims.

We claim 1. A playing-card holder comprising an arcuate stamped sheet metal back, a yi'eidable thumb member extending from one lower corner of the back and bent to extend diagonally across the concave face of the back; the opposite lower corner of the back being flanged gutwardly; and means for supporting the ack.

2. A playing-card holder comprising an arcuate sheet metal back stamped to simulate the lingers of a human hand; a yieldable thumb member extending from one lower corner of the back and bent to extend diagonally across the concave face of the back; the opposite lower corner of the back being flanged outwardly; and means for supporting the back.

3. A playing-card holder comprising an arcuate sheet metal back stamped to simulate the fingers of a human hand; a yiel'dable thumb member extendiiig from one lower corner of the back and bent to extend diagonally across the concave face of the back; the opposite lower corner of the back being flanged outwardly; a dish shaped base; and an uprightconnecting the back and base.

HERMAN J. SANDER. ALBERT J. BREISTER. 

